The Beatles : Rubber Soul in Review (the final Rubber Soul episode!) - Vinyl Friday #58
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- čas přidán 24. 01. 2024
- We made it to the end, friends! I'm so sad that it's over, but I've had such an amazing time doing this Vinyl Friday mini-series, and I hope you have, too.
In this episode, we get a bit controversial, which hopefully kicks off a lively (but cordial) exchange of views in our comment section. Hit me with your hot takes! And then...we say goodbye to this spectacular album. * sigh *
But the question to cap it off is, do you want to do this with me again? 👉👈
If so... let's launch another campaign! A Beatles record costs approximately $50 here. If I reach $50 in donations to my buymeacoffee page ( www.buymeacoffee.com/fathommu... ), I'll put up a poll for a week, so that you can vote on which album we'll cover next (of three options). What do you reckon? Keen?
Happy Friday, folks!
Want to look at pictures of what I'm working on? / fathommusicnz
Interested in purchasing music I've made? fathomnz.bandcamp.com
Fathom albums "The World to Breathe" and "Modern Reflections, Vol. 1" are also available on all streaming platforms. Tweed's album "High Brow Blues" is also ALSO available on all streaming platforms!
Thanks for your sharing your attention with me. :)
#thebeatles #beatles #rubbersoul #classicalbums #musicreview #vinyl #vinylcommunity
Revolver - it has to be their most ambitious, all encompassing, ground breaking album! And your Elementary Penguins re-creation will be so much fun - if taxing (pun intended) and stretching in it's complexity! However after your amazing work on Strawberry Fields I've got every confidence you'll succeed! Good luck!
I recently listened to this album four or five times after having played it all the way through for a long time. The song that was a revelation to me was What Goes On. I love the guitar work on that one.
If you do another Beatles album, please do Revolver.
Not only was it their next release, but it's so interesting and I imagine you'll have a lot to say...
"Standing on the precipice of timeless greatness", that's a great description. The next Beatles album should be the one you want to do because it's important we get to hear what you really feel.
Haha, I should clarify - I love them ALL. Perhaps not equally, but I would gladly find something beloved in just about every song in their catalogue (except *perhaps* some of the covers on Please Please Me, maybe?) So for the poll, I'll put up a choice of three that I'd enjoy doing next, and you can all pick one of the three! :)
I would argue that "Norwegian Wood" was John doing Bob Dylan.
As for the last song. My old band used to play it and I changed the one word to Gone.
The one thing about Run for your life you didn't mention was that Lennon wrote the song as a teen in the 50s; it was George who urged him to revive it. This was a messed up teenager song eching the misogyny of the times not a statement by mid 20s Lennon. I thought his atonement for Run for Your Life was Jealous Guy -which was what was really going on there.
Agreed - "Jealous Guy" is a much more nuanced take on the same concept. I also think the song works far better in that context than "Child Of Nature", as it had been conceived originally.
Here's my controversial take...I sometimes prefer the Donny Hathaway cover!
@paulcunneen3519 - John said that he wrote this song specifically for the "Rubber Soul" sessions. I have never seen it written in any book or said in any interview - that John wrote this song "as a teen in the 50s". I believe you have that incorrect. He wrote it in the second half of 1965.
When I think of Rubber Soul I think of Brian Wilson who was floored by it and inspired to write Pet Sounds. And I think of Zappa who said that rock music is or should be an art form. And Rubber Soul was the beginning of that process.
Some Beatles songs are heaped with praise which are not really deserving, and some songs are ridiculed inappropriately. I agree, run for your life was album filler for a group who routinely put 14 songs on each album. They were under the gun to complete the album during a period when they were releasing two albums per year, and they hadn’t released a cover song since Beatles for sale. This song isn’t their best, but it’s still part of an unparalleled accomplishment. I contend that as one of the lesser tracks from the Beatles, it’s still better than many of other artists best in that era. And regarding the lyrics, they represent the exaggerated but honest feelings of a young jealous boy at the end of a relationship. He is saying out loud what nearly everyone feels during an ugly breakup. He’s not really going to kill someone, he’s saying it would be easier to loose her if she died rather than loose her to another guy. I think the lyrics are great for what they are, an expression of negative feelings about love amongst dozens of songs voicing the positive feelings of love. If the lyrics offend you, you are too sensitive.
Hmm, I never really thought about ‘woman is the n-word of the world” as a great way to defend John Lennon’s ‘run for your life’ lyrics - but that’s actually a very interesting point. As an artist, a song writer Lennon understood the impact of words and phrases. He understood the creative process. He famously searched for ways to get to the core truth of who he was through the creative process - and that included uncensored expression of his thoughts and feelings, however raw or ugly those thoughts and feelings were. In an era where men were forced to repress their emotions and feelings, Lennon was saying fuck that - I’m going to honestly express myself… (just give me some truth). Putting this brave inner journey out there for the public, for us to use as a template, has been very important in many peoples lives. His songs have given us the permission to confront the true feelings and honest thoughts that we have. And that really is the first step in evolving as a person. Unflinchingly Confronting the truth.
I m so thankful that Lennon bravely opened up like that and shared his inner turmoil with the world. Seeing/hearing him do that has allowed millions of others to do the same.
Yeah, the n-word in "Woman is the ___" was a very deliberate choice, clearly provocative, and I think brilliant. The comparison is apt, if unsettling, and makes the message of that song very clear.
Looking forward to Revolver!🙂🪬✌️ ♥️🎶🌼🌸🌞🎸🕉
Your Mum and Dad need their own channel!
The song is bad for all the examples you provide, but in general, it's hard for me as a mega fan to truly slag any Beatles song for the following reason...they were so prolific that it's just insane to 'fathom' them completing as many songs as they managed to in the first place...it doesn't excuse this so-so song with creepy lyrics but at the same time, some songs need to live at the bottom of the catalog, so it has its place...somewhere! Absolutely love the channel btw, fantastic work!
Thank you so much!
I agree with you here - I struggle to find anything to complain about with any of their music. So if I have objections to one song in their canonical catalogue, that leaves 186 to love whole-heartedly, right?
As a songwriter, I definitely have some duds that I never released. If I had been down to the wire with recording obligations in years past, there's every chance that some of those duds could have (regrettably) not been left on the cutting room floor, as it were. We all have our bad days!
Excellent series and well done for finding a positive way to end! 🙂
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for posting, as always. Not long after I became a Beatlefan, I started looking at the songs within particular group of sessions. Maybe someday the coffee jar will have enough money in it to cover Day Tripper and We Can Work it Out...similarly for Revolver, Paperback Writer and Rain. (And then for completists, there's 12-Bar Original, not sure $50 will be enough to get that on vinyl.😃Even if it's not that remarkable of a piece.)
3:28 "Musically, I don't hate this song. I just think it's a little bit unremarkable." I agree with you that it's not the music which causes this track to fall so low on the list of best tracks - because it is obviously the lyrics. My brother has always loved this track - for it's upbeat music - and the way John sings it.
3:32 You are soooo right about how John has some of his greatest songs on this LP (In My Life, Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, Girl) - which makes this track's weaknesses stand out even more when measured against those great songs.
4:16 It's kind of funny that this was the first track they recorded for the new LP. Generally John had one of his best tracks as the first one they recorded for a new LP. "It Won't Be Long" was the first one of his original songs that was recorded for their 2nd LP. "You Can't Do That" and "I Should Have Known Better" were both recorded on the first day of their new LP work for the 3rd LP. "I'm A Loser" was the first John song they recorded for the 4th LP. "Ticket To Ride" was the first John song they recorded for the 5th LP. They recorded both "Run For Your Life" and "Norwegian Wood" on October 12th, 1965 (the first day of the 6th LP session). "Run For Your Life" was done in the early session - and "Norwegian Wood was done in the later session. So... it's clear that this was a song that John cared about - at that time. "Tomorrow Never Knows" was the first song they worked on for the 7th LP. "Strawberry Fields Forever" was the first song they worked on for the 8th LP (yes, it was later decided to be used as a single - and not put on the LP). "Revolution 9" was the first track recorded for the White Album - and John said this about it at the time: "This is the music of the future. You can forget all the rest of the shit we've done - this is IT! Everybody will be making this stuff one day."
"Don't Let Me Down" was the first song they worked on when they got together on January 2nd, 1969 to begin the "Get Back" sessions. "I Want You" was the first song they worked on after the "Get Back" sessions ended at the end of January, 1969. They recorded the basic track on February 22nd.
So... it's pretty clear that John always brought in the song he most cared about - at that time - to start off the new recording sessions. I'd have to say that "Run For Your Life" is easily the worst song among all of the ones listed above (I don't count "Rev 9" as a song). It's weird that John thought so highly of that song when he brought it in to record. He obviously changed his mind as time passed.
4:47 Disliking the lyrics... I think pretty much everybody agrees with that. Ever since the O.J. trial... I have referred to this track as the O.J. Simpson theme song.
"I'd rather see you dead, little girl... then to be with another man." "You'd better run for your life if you can, little girl. Hide your head in the sand, little girl. Catch you with another man... that's the end, little girl." "Let this be a sermon - I mean everything I've said. Baby, I'm determined that I'd rather see you dead."
9:09 "To me, "Rubber Soul " stands as a historic document of the world's biggest pop band standing on the precipice of timeless greatness - and it's bloody good music besides."
Nancy - For me, they had already reached timeless greatness with this album (and with everything they did in 1965). The 4 John songs you mentioned earlier attest to that. "Michelle won a Grammy for song of the year. Paul's "Yesterday" from the previous 1965 album had 6 Grammy nominations and won the Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Song of 1965". There are critics and fans who pick this as their best album.
Just watching your videos about this album - about these songs... has done exactly what you said (given me a renewed appreciation, a new look at them - from a different perspective). So thanks to you (and all of your wonderful correspondents) for giving us fans your delightful insights to every aspect of each and every song.
10:07 You are so funny (self centered delusion). ; )
10:30 "This album is a thing of brilliance... and we are so lucky to have it." Yes, and we are lucky to have you and your wonderful deep dives into these songs.
OMG... "We practically had to pay her to turn it off occasionally." Your mom should have said, "8 days a week, 24 hours a day".
14:24 Loved all the outtakes you included here. One of my all time favorites is the early take of "No Reply" where John keeps singing "your face".
Yes..... definitely buy another Beatles album (Revolver would be great - and is the next in line).
I knew, deep in my heart, that the Elementary Penguins would reunite. Love the extended YAY! in the video...
"It's disappointing because the guy on the second trumpet came in half a beat late after the middle eight on the second song." The big smile on your mom's face says soooo much.
Then your dad says, "That was the first time it really occurred to me that she was a bit unusual".
Thanks for sharing your family with us. Your sister and your mom & dad are awesome.
* sigh * I accidentally deleted my reply again.
Thanks for your comment! A couple of things:
-What are your thoughts on "Strawberry Fields" not making it onto "Sgt. Pepper's"? Was it the right choice, or could its inclusion have made the perfect album even better?
-I LOVE that version of "No Reply". It was the first one I heard, and I still sing it that way sometimes.
@@fathommusicnz - Nancy, I seem to remember an interview with George Martin where he said the biggest mistake he ever made was not leaving "Strawberry Fields" and "Penny Lane" on the "Sgt. Pepper" album. The reason that they took those songs off the LP - is that they needed to release a new single. Beatles fans had been spoiled by the band with a new release coming every 3 months or so.
Here's an example of how often they were putting new material out beginning with the end of 1964... I Feel Fine 11-64, Beatles For Sale LP 12-64, 8 Days A Week 2-65, Ticket To Ride 4-65, Help! single 7-65, Help! LP 8-65, Yesterday 9-65, We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper 12-65, Rubber Soul LP 12-65, Michelle 1-66 (went to #1 in 8 countries - but not released as a single in the UK or US), Nowhere Man 2-66, Paperback Writer 5-30-66, Yesterday and Today LP in the US 6-15-66, Eleanor Rigby/yellow Submarine 8-5-66, Revolver LP 8-5-66. So... you can see that the fans were getting fresh new Beatles material ALL the time. A 3 month wait - was a long time back then. (note - I'm using the US system of month-day-year - where 6-15-66 is June 15th, 1966)
The 1966 holiday season came and went - and The Beatles didn't put out a new album. They didn't even put out a new single. That had never happened before. The group had put nothing new out since August 5th, 1966... and they needed to put something out. Fans were speculating that the group had broken up. Others were saying that their creative juices had finally dried up... They decided to go with the two best tracks they had completed for the next album. The new (Panny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever) single was finally released on February 13th, 1967. It had been MORE THAN 6 MONTHS since the group's last new release.
The new single quenched the thirst of Beatle fans around the world... and many people see it as the best single ever made. So... it was probably the best decision that they could have made - at that time. Would the "Pepper" LP have been even greater if they could have saved those two songs for the album..? Absolutely... without a doubt.
Spectacular answer, @@aBeatleFan4ever . 10/10!
Run For Your Life’s music is certainly Beatles, the lyrics: not so much. Thank you Yoko, for helping to get John’s head straight, and making his last years happy ones. 🙂
I think you said everything that needs to be said about "Run For Your Life." It's not very good, the weakest song on the album... however, Lennon certainly did redeem himself from his misogyny in later years, both personally and musically. And one poor song does not make a poor album. If anything, RFYL only makes the rest of Lennon's amazing contributions on Rubber Soul stand out even more. Also, as sort of a side note, I have to comment that Ringo’s drumming on this whole LP is absolutely superb, his best effort to date. Now enjoy your coffee!
My opinion on Run For Your Life is exactly the same as yours. It's one of the few, maybe even the only Beatles track I'm not that big on. I sorta wish they broke their own rule about not putting singles on albums, and chose Day Tripper or We Can Work It Out to close it out. That said though, it doesn't sour my feelings on the album. This is a really great record, it's probably their most beautiful listen. I too hope the next album will be Revolver, that album is probably my favorite of theirs. I discovered your channel fairly recently but I've been a big fan.
Run For Your Life is one of my favorite Beatles songs. When I started watching Beatles videos on CZcams, I was surprised to find out how universally disliked it is. What I like about it is the harmonies in the chorus, the melody, and the rhythm (Ringo!).
🏆🏆🏆🏆!
My earliest memory of "Run For Your Life" (and my first encounter with the band), was as a kid in the late 60s watching the King Features Beatles cartoon series.
The montage for this song featured an animated elephant for some reason, alive, and then dead, if I remember correctly. All I remembered from the lyrics for the longest time after was the line " that's the end, little girl" and the dead cartoon pachyderm.
My 6 year old brain really didn't process much else from the song at that point...the cringe element didn't kick in till many years later.
I agree that this song would have been better suited to an earlier album, but there it is on Rubber Soul. I find it a catchy tune, and try not not to think too hard on the lyrics, other than being a rather unfortunate choice made by a younger and less wise John Lennon
I almost spat out my tea at "dead cartoon pachyderm"!
George’s solo always fascinates :so dissonant and dirty so uncharacteristic of his style
I'm seeing some laissez faire attitudes to the run for your life lyrics in comments but y'know what, I just can't be dealing with those easy going attitudes so I'm not going to respond to these Nancy. Everytime I catch myself thinking it's just a song I'll remind myself I'm not doubly exploited under capitalism and patriarchy: i'll also remember the incidence of violence against women that according to UN figures occurs against women every few minutes. The threatening words often get highlighted but the awful 'make you tow the line' I think is equally devastating.
you've struck the right balance and celebrated the album. my favourite will always be i'm looking through you : not a generous song in itself but one written in the hurt of love. It's been a series to stand alongside vinyl monday's rubber soul episode.
it's lovely that we're getting to see your family recently.
the penguins are ready to fly again! ( something's wrong with this statement maybe). some videos of the resurrected band would be nice?
Thanks for your comment, Alan - I couldn't agree more. I'll admit that it was tricky to figure out that balance; there's so very much to praise about the album, and to dwell on the not-so-great can do the rest of the album a disservice.
On the other hand, knowing several people who have been pursued or chased down by strangers in the street (including yours truly on a couple of occasions) can make the lyric "run for your life" ring a little less conceptual, you know?
I'm just pleased that John had a bit of a turnaround once he matured and developed a close relationship with a woman who seemed pretty switched-on, in spite of the disdain she seems to cop. It makes it much easier to close that chapter.
Thanks, as always, for watching, and contributing. :)
little recommendation if you don't know it. the abbey road medley on CZcams by the Sheffield Beatles Project. not as catchy as elementary penguin i know.
@alanclayton9277 checking it out now. Thanks!
Edit: I LOVED that. How incredible that would've been live!
Alan - Your comments about the tragic levels of violence against women are spot on. And your sentence about the "make you tow the line" words being just as devastating - are also so true. I don't know if any of you have been watching the "Fargo" TV show that will be wrapping up soon... but the character played by John Ham embodies the terrible reality that too many women have faced for far too long. Do as you are told - or you will get one upside your head... is still going on in today's world - and sometimes right there in your own neighborhood.
And you are also so right about the balance that Nancy found in this video - to share the final track with a comprehensive look at the LP as a whole. Well done, Nancy.
@@fathommusicnz - Nancy... I'm so sorry to hear about your own run ins with that "run for your life" situation. Makes me sick to think about it. The way we humans can treat each other has always bothered me deeply. Bless you for maintaining such a beautiful outlook on the world - despite having reasons to feel otherwise.
George really loved it for some reason. I think it would've been 13 tracks if he didn't encourage John to put it on
George said "Rubber soul" was his favourite Beatles album. I can see why.
Haha, what a pity! Without that final inclusion, I think the album would have been wholly perfect.
Rob - I don't see "Run For Your Life" as a last minute addition to the album to fill it out. John brought it in as one of his most favorite tracks (of that time) and had the group record it first... before any other track. That says a lot. He obviously changed his mind about the song later... but he wanted that song on the album in 1965 - and he was raring to go with the recording of the track.
Ahhh, Run For Your Life. Personally I just can't get past the lyrics. They. are just repulsive. Light years away is In My Life. One of his best.
It's Only Love is usually quoted as being Lennon least liked song of his. In My Life would have been a better album closer with Run For YOur Life filler.
its a pity that run for your life has the lyrics that it does - but the tune and melody is fine- it would be a good song if it had other lyrics and a deserving place on rubber soul.
I've always liked Run for Your Life but musically it would have been better placed on Beatles For Sale but accurse the song was not even written yet during the making of that album. As for its ranking in The Beatles song catalog it would be in the lower regions. It is a throw off piece that is quite ear worm catchy. From what I understand and as you mention John threw this one together to as sort of trying to come up with a song like Elvis's Baby Lets Play House. Run for Your Life has really a cool guitar riff which I leaned to play myself on the guitar.
As for the threatening tone toward the girlfriend, I've always consider the thread of death as sort of an exaggeration that would never be carried out. How many times has someone close to you did something that irritated you and you use the expression I can just kill them? For me same thing applies to this song. In hindsight the threatening lyrical content had always bothered John. If John had the same reservation about Run for Your Life during its recording and wanted to abandon it, Paul could have suggestion for the lyrics to be rewritten to soften the threating tones up and if we don't use it for the album then perhaps use it for a non album B-side of a single.
I think you echoed in your video of what this album is praised for and yes it is a landmark album for them. No longer were they just writing love songs for teenage girls but songs from a prospective of reaching adulthood. I think The Beach Boys Pet Sounds album took this same approach. It was no longer about surfing, beautiful girls and cars but the coming of age and the fears and wonders it brings. As high as their songwriting had been, they even up the game in writing on Rubber Soul. I was only six years old when Rubber Soul was release. I was hearing a lot of pop music at that time but I have not put the numbers together of what the music universe was all about although I was hearing a lot of pop music on the radio and Beatles music was played a lot by my older siblings. I do remember looking at the Rubber Soul album cover admiring it and thinking that the music that is contained on the record that house this piece of vinyl must be good based on the album cover alone. Good was not strong enough of a word to rate this album. It would be in the coming years of my life that I would upgrade my thoughts of this album. Finally I settle on the words unreal jaw dropping. As always I've enjoyed watching this video. Keep up the good work. :)
You know, you're right - I completely neglected to mention the riff! That IS a great riff. Thank you for the reminder.
@@fathommusicnz - Nancy... I blame the guitar correspondent. She was probably having a bad day - and, unfortunately, missed out on an opportunity to play the riff.
I really dislike the lyrics to this too, it’s Lennon’s worst song for me. I think you’re right to point out some of the mitigating factors such as the crazy time pressures and lifting a line from Baby Let’s Play House, but he really dropped a clanger with this. He was a flawed individual just like all of us, but happily I think his more consistent messages about love and anti violence are the ones which resonate the most.
Agreed! It's an encouraging thought that "All You Need Is Love" is the enduring message.
@@fathommusicnz and he was right, too. It seems like a more important message than ever these days.
The lyrics alone tick me off. some sadistic controller beating a spouse, trash lyrics. I would rather have Hey Bulldog.
No contention here, 'Run For Your Life' IS the weakest song on the album. It's alright, but it is simplistic both musically and lyrically. There are a couple of Beatle albums that have a weak track. (BTW, is your deck a Pioneer Pl12. My first, and best deck!)
It's actually a Garrard! I traded it for a bunch of nice sausages, if you'll believe it.
You're entitled to your opinion, but I personally think that it's the perfect ending to the masterpiece that is "Rubber soul".
Yeah, I know it was only used because they had to have another song, and I wouldn't call it one of their stronger songs (I wouldn't say it's their weakest either).
The album has so much diversity both musically and lyrically - songs telling stories (life stories, fictional stories), a song about cars, songs about strong emotions and feelings, relationships, a song about a girl, and so much more... And then you end it on a song about revenge.
You have songs about love (The word, Michelle) and then you also have a song about revenge to end it - it's such an unexpected and fun way to end an album and really sums up what the Beatles were. They were unpredictable and strayed away from the norm.
Love it or hate it, "Run for your life" is a great way to end the album.
And I'm sorry, but if you think the lyrics are "misogynistic" then you just don't understand it. It's an anti-cheating song. A song saying that if she cheats on him, he will get his revenge. It may be violent, and I can see why some think it's too far, but it would be exactly the same if the genders were reversed or the same.
Maybe the lyrics are a little too far, as they are quite violent, but they should not be seen as controversial, because everyone should agree that cheating on somebody else is wrong. Maybe killing them for it is too much, but you shouldn't call it controversial or "misogynistic" to write a song about it. Even if it is very hate-filled.
But hey, you're entitled to your own opinion and I won't judge you. But I'm glad you like the album almost as much as I do. :)
Too many people take lyrics in songs literally. With this song it's like saying "I'm going to kill you". People don't mean it literally.
It's the weakest song on the album and I don't like the lyrics at all. Still, when I play Rubber Soul, I don't skip it.
Revolver is the way to go next. My favourite Beatles' album tends to fluctuate quite a lot and Revolver somestimes gets to the top.
My favourite album also fluctuates, almost depending on the day!
I have always hated Run for your life, I first heard this album 40 years ago and loved it until the final track. Lyrically it is unacceptable, even for the 60s, and musically it is a bland and badly recorded shocker! Ruins a great LP!